What bike to get for the Great Divide Trail?

The only question I have: for an unexperienced mechanic(if a breakdown occurs en route, I will need to pray to fix it) like myself, what's the best bike to get at a local bike shop that's reliable, and has good resale value(I'm going to get a touring bike and head south on road after I get to Idaho).

I'm thinking;
hardtail
Trek
large tires
v-brakes
aluminum
under $800(stock)
Novara Safari?(that'll save some money on a rear rack)
ALSO, I don't want to order online, unless I find an awesome deal.

I'd go with mechanical disc brakes (specifically bb7's) , but other than that , I think you have the right idea.

A basic hardtail with comfortable geometry and eyelets for racks. You might even consider putting a rigid fork on there instead of going with a cheap suspension fork (which would be on any stock hardtail <750)

I'd go with mechanical disc brakes (specifically bb7's) , but other than that , I think you have the right idea.

A basic hardtail with comfortable geometry and eyelets for racks. You might even consider putting a rigid fork on there instead of going with a cheap suspension fork (which would be on any stock hardtail <750)

Good luck.

+1 My V-brakes stopped ok but i'm a stickler for perfection sometimes and i was always having to adjust them to make them run perfect, my BB7s have been running perfect ever since i installed them and haven't needed to be touched! the added bonuses of all-weather powerful stopping, much more mud/leaf/debris clearance, and longer lasting pads, they just beat V's hands down, especially in a great divide situation.

Some great divide riders like the rigid fork for efficiency, less weight, and less maintenance, I see the point but I need suspension. my commuter mtb is rigid fwiw.

some great dividers also like singlespeed since they are more reliable, it would be nice to not worry about an r. der, but also not my style.

I would also get big fat tires but try to get a tread with some efficiency like maxxis high rollers perhaps? or sacrifice some weight for flat prevention and get armadillos?

well since the OP is bringing a trailer along, that pretty much makes him ride a geared bike over that type of terrain. he can easily throw a spare deraailer and cables and housing in the trailer for insurance.

My point for for advocating the BB7's is pad wear and stopping power in wet/inclement conditions. Plus, a little wobble in the rim (bound to happen on a trip like this) won't screw up your braking. I would Bring a spare rotor though also.

I then found a BOB Yak trailer on Craigslist here in Phoenix used for $150. The Skewer is too short though because of the disc brakes being too wide.

The trailer doesn't have a bag but I have Ortlieb waterproof panniers from my last touring mountain bike(stolen 2 months ago) to throw my stuff in.

My next post will be a list of vital things I will be taking, but let me know what you suggest. By the way, what's a rotor(from the last post), and why would you take an extra, Curt Kurt?

NOTE- I have everything stock on the bike, except an softer seat, can I manage with the stock tires(I got cloth liners to prevent flats). I didn't even think about the tires until your post, mlh122. What would be the best/cheapest tire to get, and how many spares do you suggest?

The stock tires are probably fine, but you should carry at least one extra. There are tons of good tires out there, but you should look for one with a kevlar bead (the ones that you can fold up) as they are easier to carry.

The rotor is the 'disc' part of a disc brake. You would carry an extra one in case the one on your bike gets bent from a fall or something. Also, make sure you carry a torx wrench for the rotor bolts, otherwise an extra rotor is just dead weight.

Thanks Devils, is that torx wrench available at hardware stores or just bike shops?

I'm thinking I'll be pulling this wait on the trailer and have a light bike that'll be spinning tires trying to grip the dirt/mud/sand/clay and every other condition I've heard is common on the Great Divide Trail(Continental Divide), especially through Northern New Mexico and north in the HUGE mountains on the way to Idaho(approx 550 miles just through CO, about .

I just imagine myself looking like a tractor pull(I grew up around rednecks in Maine tracta pullin fer fun!)!

Any thoughts on tires that dig well but will also be good for the hundreds of miles I'll be doing on road as well?

Thanks, also I should change the name of this thread, is that possible?